Alexandra MacKenzie reports"For many the reopening of the canal was the realisation of a 30-year dream" real 56k

Saturday, 26 May, 2001, 16:57 GMT 17:57 UK

Canal re-opens after 40 years

Hundreds lined the banks of the canal at Falkirk

The Forth and Clyde Canal, which links the east and west coasts of Scotland, has re-opened after almost 40 years.

Hundreds watched the reopening of the 56-kilometre canal, which was celebrated with a spectacular flotilla and a huge
children's parade in Falkirk.

The reconnection of the North Sea to the Atlantic through Scotland's oldest
canal follows an innovative regeneration project aimed at breathing new life
into waterways.

The reopening, which will allow boats to travel between the Firth of Forth
and the Firth of Clyde, marks the completion of the first stage of the £78m
Millennium Link.

This is a momentous day in the regeneration of Scotland's canals with the reopening of the Forth and Clyde Canal to through navigation after nearly 40 years.

Transport Minister Sarah Boyack

It was celebrated by hundreds of schoolchildren and spectators who lined the
canal banks in Falkirk as a specially-constructed 35ft fish-shaped boat led more than 40 vessels from Falkirk west to the Firth of Clyde in the British Waterways Scotland parade.

The money will be used to improve canals through extra dredging, removal of
contamination, reducing leakage and enhancing canalside facilities.

The historic Leamington Lift Bridge on the Union Canal, which runs through
Midlothian, West Lothian and Stirling, will also be restored to full working
order.

The Millennium Wheel is part of the restoration project

The reopening of the 200-year-old Forth and Clyde Canal, running from
Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth to Bowling on the Firth of Clyde, is the first
part of the staged opening of the Millennium Link scheme.

The project will eventually allow boats to travel from the heart of Edinburgh
to Glasgow and the Clyde Estuary via the Union Canal, Forth and Clyde Canal and
the Falkirk Wheel, a unique boat lift which will connect the two canals.

Ms Boyack said: "This is a momentous day in the regeneration of Scotland's
canals with the reopening of the Forth and Clyde Canal to through navigation
after nearly 40 years.

"Canals have been a much under-utilised resource in recent times and British
Waterways Scotland have got a huge task on their hands in bringing the canals up
to scratch and encouraging their use.

"I am therefore delighted to announce today an extra £1.5 million grant for
BW Scotland in recognition of the financial pressure they face. This funding
will be used to help encourage the public to make greater use of our canal
network.

"Canals can contribute greatly to Scotland's urban regeneration and provide
new opportunities for recreation and tourism. I encourage all those involved to
continue to work together to ensure that the enormous potential of the
Millennium Link will be realised."